Israeli ministers call for renewed strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs

JERUSALEM — Two Israeli Cabinet ministers on Sunday called for renewed airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut despite an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Israel should respond forcefully to any violations by Hezbollah and to every drone launched from Lebanon.”Dahiyeh must tremble,” Ben-Gvir wrote on X, referring to Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order strikes on the area.”Take down buildings in Dahiyeh today,” Smotrich wrote on X.”The fire toward the northern settlements is a test of the Dahiyeh equation that the Prime Minister announced,” he added.The comments came after the Israeli military reported a drone attack launched from Lebanon targeting military positions in northern Israel.Despite a fragile ceasefire that took effect on April 17, Israeli forces have continued carrying out airstrikes in Lebanon.According to Lebanese officials, Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed more than 3,700 people, wounded nearly 11,500 others and displaced over 1.5 million people.JERUSALEM — Two Israeli Cabinet ministers on Sunday called for renewed airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut despite an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Israel should respond forcefully to any violations by Hezbollah and to every drone launched from Lebanon.”Dahiyeh must tremble,” Ben-Gvir wrote on X, referring to Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order strikes on the area.”Take down buildings in Dahiyeh today,” Smotrich wrote on X.”The fire toward the northern settlements is a test of the Dahiyeh equation that the Prime Minister announced,” he added.The comments came after the Israeli military reported a drone attack launched from Lebanon targeting military positions in northern Israel.Despite a fragile ceasefire that took effect on April 17, Israeli forces have continued carrying out airstrikes in Lebanon.According to Lebanese officials, Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed more than 3,700 people, wounded nearly 11,500 others and displaced over 1.5 million people.